Hi - I'm thinking about becoming a classic Buick owner, but want to make sure I'm paying a fair price to do so. I'm looking at purchasing a 1957 Buick Super 2-dr hardtop (56r). The car runs, has a recently rebuilt starter, new battery, new whole car wiring harness (painless), but the transmission is an unknown (the previous owner said it worked well, but the current owner has not had it above a couple of mph for loading/unloading from trailer). It comes with a set of seats in excellent condition, most chrome (although the rear bumper ends aren't the greatest), good front/rear glass, but cracked side glass. The brakes are an unknown quantity, so I'm assuming they're junk and am planning on replacing with discs up front. Its no cream puff, but the body and frame are both quite solid with very little rust (mostly surface rust, if any). It's pretty much stock, with the only body mods done being shaving the door handles and nosing. So, my question is, what's a fair price for this car? Also, I have pictures of the car available, I'm just unable to post them due to my low post count. Is there any other way I could get them to anyone interested in helping me out? Thanks much! Theo
Hello Theo: The 1957 Super 2 drs hardtop coupe is series 56R. 46R is the 1957 Special 2 drs hardtop coupe. Where are you located ? If it's N-America, I can't really help you out with the going prices for these older model cars, but I'm sure someone will chime in after we put some photos online. Mail your photos to my e-address and I will put them online in this thread :TU: Mail to: erikboattailmeetingphotos@gmail.com
So, when you're done with it, it'll look something like this? Personally, I like this one... :beers2: Bob
To add more info: I'm located in Minnesota and the car is in PA. This is what makes me a bit nervous about purchasing the vehicle, as it would be purchased without my seeing it personally. However, I've spoken extensively with the current owner and the person he purchased it from (as they're both members of the H.A.M.B) and have been reassured that there is very little, if any, cancer and that the rust on the vehicle is primarily surface rust (with little pitting).
That's really hard - trying a long distance thing. Did you check Hemmings and E-bay to get some idea? Those cars can really be all over the place, price wise.
I have been watching Hemmings, and non-running, non-rustbucket 55-57 Super 2-dr hardtops seem to be somewhere in the $3,000-4,000 range, with restored versions going for anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000+ depending upon originality and quality of resto. I've also checked the Manheim Gold Book, which lists this car as $4,500 in fair condition, which I don't believe this car qualifies for. I've not been able to find a car for sale that was very similar condition-wise to the one I'm looking at anywhere else either, which is why I'm asking here. Thanks to all for the help so far!
Theo, pard , You need to take a hard look at that car before shelling out any money for it. From the pics it looks like a parts car to me, You could rebuild it but it is going to take a ton of work,parts and money. I would be hard pressed to give a thousand for it. Where is all the stuff that has been taken off of it?????? What they show is not near all of it. What about the condition of the floor pans and the trunk flloor. Under hood. Still too much unknown here. caution, caution, caution.
I'm siding with Doc on this one, but my first impression is that I saw a car in the earliest stages of restoration. ...could've started off as a parts car, though. The sheet metal look good. Either the dents have been pulled or this is one lucky car to have not been punched in all these years. My advice is to go there (you've got to anyway, if you're going to buy it), with the money, and take a good close look at it. Don't be afraid to ask to see any part of the car you want to. Remember, YOU are the one in control here. He cannot make you buy the car, and you have the power to shut down the deal at any time. If he's unwilling to show you something, or tries to "sway" your attention towards something else, be HIGHLY suspect of his intentions. ...and I mean really keep an eye out for that. Some of these guys are pretty slick and will pull that little stunt without you ever noticing it until long after the deal is done. Otherwise, if the car looks "workable", get it. Bob
Thanks for all the help so far - I greatly appreciate it! The floor pans and trunk had rust, but have been repaired with metal from a donor (with the exception of the bottom of the spare tire depression), although I have no good pictures showing this. This car has been worked on a little bit by each of 4 different people since being pulled out of a junkyard, so I would agree that it's definitely in the earliest stages of restoration. As for other, missing, parts - the interior was a loss, so the only components other than the dash/wheel are the seats (which were pulled from a decent '57). My main concern with this car is that IF I were to buy it, it would be based upon the seller's word and the pictures I have, or could get. I absolutely cannot get out to the car, but would have to have it shipped back (I have a reliable shipper if I were to need one). The seller is asking $2500 for the vehicle, and shipping would cost me ~$850, for a total of around $3300. Does this sound WAY high? I'm beginning to think it does, although how much too high, I don't know. More pictures (sorry I can't post links yet): theo.ws/buick/100_1447.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1465.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1466.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1503.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1504.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1505.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1506.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1507.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1508.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1509.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1510.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1511.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1512.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1513.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1514.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1515.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1516.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1517.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1518.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1519-1.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1520.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1521.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1522.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1523.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1524.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1525.jpg theo.ws/buick/100_1526.jpg
I'm thinking that money is kind of high. You'll have big $ in rechroming, and finding trim parts for 57's is a lot of work if everything isn't there. Then there's the wiring issue and instruments (I think it costs about $300.00 to have the speedometer rebuilt, for example), and rubber parts and interior (big $). Did you want a long-term project, or are you the type of person (like me) who needs to drive something to stay interested? Those are important questions to answer before diving into something like this, especially with all the work ahead of you. On the other hand, 57's are not all that common. So I guess what you really have to answer is, "Do you love it?" Have you always wanted a 57 Buick? If so, then the work and investment will pay off in intangiables. All that said, I can't help but think that you could find a driver that you could enjoy right now for a better relative price. Just my $.02.
You're welcome. How much do you trust your shipper? Is it possible to give the money to the shipper and have that person make the determination for you, already knowing your criteria? I know, sounds ludicrous, but I've seen that done before. Considering your situation, this may be a viable alternative. Bob
I'm going to get in contact with the shipper tonight to see what his thoughts are on inspecting it and going ahead with the purchase if it looks good. He's going to be very close to the vehicle for another drop off, so I'm hoping that would work. If I were to decide to make an offer on the car (contingent to the inspection of the shipper), ss far as a fair price for the car is concerned, what are peoples' thoughts?
IMHO it looks to be a great body for something else such as a modern caddy drive line and custom frame as a completely custom car. other than that i'd be worried. I also do not know these cars very well. I'd strongly recommend getting pictures of the underside and see what condition the frame is in. and other body to frame mounting points. edit looked at pics. looks to be pretty sound frame wise.... What are your plans for the car before starting the project. if it's a near perfect resto you would need to love this car to acomplish that.
My plan for the car would be to make it into a mild custom driver. Nothing show quality, nothing original, just a somewhat unique car to cruise in. It would get a decent interior and paint at some point in the not too distant future, but would be made mechanically sound first. As far as underpinnings go, I realize the 57 is costly to repair/maintain, but I had planned on using subframes with modern suspension (again, at some point in the future), but would like to keep the nailhead. It would also be something to learn on. I have friends that have done alot of restoration work on cars (primarily tri-5 chevy's and '60s pony cars), but I've not done any so the idea of a started project that still requires a bunch of work appeals to me. So given all of this info and the pictures, what are peoples' thoughts as to a fair price?
I'm no expert either, but I believe that car at $2500 will be available for a long time so that you can look around a spell. I know I've seen better for less on ebay. Although the $2500 is probably a tenth of the end cost. I know a couple of guys did 57s and they are the hardest and most expensive to restore. I'd look around a while first. A Century or Special will be worth more afterwards too I believe. But if you really love it, only you know what to do. Rule of thumb, what ever you think you have to do and spend, double it and you will be close to final cost. So good luck, and keep us updated.
:TU: :gp: :beer Wish I could offer some help, but my "pricing skills" are stuck in 1980. To me, that car's worth in the range of $50-$200. Bob
